Device and method for cleaning a coating material

Abstract

Device (1) for cleaning a coating material (2), in particular a coating material (2) provided on a workpiece (4), the workpiece (4) preferably consisting at least in parts of wood, wood materials or plastic, comprising a cleaning element (10) for removing soilings from the coating material (2), a conveying unit (20) for causing a relative movement between the cleaning element (10) and the coating material (2), and a cleaning agent application unit (30, 30′) for applying a preferably liquid cleaning agent to the cleaning element (10).

1 . Device for cleaning a coating material, in particular a coating material provided on a workpiece, the workpiece preferably consisting at least in parts of wood, wood materials or plastic, comprising:
 a cleaning element for removing soilings from the coating material,   a conveying unit for causing a relative movement between the cleaning element and the coating material, and   a cleaning agent application unit for applying a preferably liquid cleaning agent to the cleaning element.   
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein a pressing unit is provided having at least one pressing element for pressing the cleaning element against the coating material. 
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one pressing element comprises, at least in the contact area with the cleaning element, an elastic material such as, in particular, an elastomer. 
     
     
         4 . Device according to claim, wherein at least one pressing element is arranged so as to be moveable, and preferably at least one force application unit is provided for urging at least one pressing element towards the cleaning element. 
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent application unit has at least one discharge opening which is preferably provided in the area and/or upstream of the pressing unit. 
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent application unit contains a cleaning agent with an evaporation number of at most 10 and preferably comprising at least 50% alcohol and/or at least 5% ketones and aldehydes. 
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein a feed unit is provided for feeding at least one cleaning element. 
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises an absorbent material which is preferably selected from fabric, woven fabric, nonwoven and combinations thereof, and particularly preferably comprises cellulose. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for finishing a coating material, comprising:
 a device for cleaning the coating material according to one of the preceding claims, and   a device) for patterning, in particular printing, the cleaned coating material.   
     
     
         10 . Method for cleaning a coating material ( 2 ), in particular a coating material provided on a workpiece, the workpiece preferably consisting at least in parts of wood, wood materials or plastic, using a device for cleaning the coating material according to one of the preceding claims, and comprising the steps of:
 causing a relative movement between a cleaning element and the coating material by means of the conveying unit,   applying a preferably liquid cleaning agent to the cleaning element by means of the cleaning agent application unit, and   removing soilings from the coating material by means of the cleaning element.   
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein the coating material consists at least in parts of plastic.